“The laughter of man is more terrible than his tears, and takes more forms — hollow, heartless, mirthless, maniacal.”
New York Times Magazine (7 December 1958).
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James Thurber90
American cartoonist, author, journalist, playwright 1894–1961Related quotes
“There is nothing more precious than laughter”
Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) Mexican painter
Source: The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait
“To say more than this would only cause weeping and laughter.”
Milarepa (1052–1135) Tibetan yogi
As quoted in The Life of Milarepa: A New Translation from the Tibetan (1977) by Tsangnyön Heruka, as translated by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa, p. 12
Context: In my youth I committed black deeds. In maturity I practised innocence. Now, released from both good and evil, I have destroyed the root of karmic action and shall have no reason for action in the future. To say more than this would only cause weeping and laughter. What good would it do to tell you? I am an old man. Leave me in peace.
“An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American general and politician, 34th president of the United States (in office from 1953 to 1961)
Muhammad al-Taqi (811–835) ninth of the Twelve Imams of Twelver Shi'ism
[Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi, The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad, Wonderful Maxims and Arts, 2005]
“More tearful than crying is seeing someone cry.”
Antonio Porchia (1885–1968) Italian Argentinian poet
Más llanto que llorar es ver llorar.
Voces (1943)